Towards the end of the long, hot summer of 1976, Guildford was brought to a standstill as two trains collided at Guildford Station.

On Thursday August 19 a passenger was left with severe spinal injuries when their train was hit by an empty stock movement.

An official investigation at the time concluded that: “The incident occurred at 18.31 on August 19, while the 17.54 electric passenger train from Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour was crossing lines at Guildford Station.

“An empty coaching stock train, which had previously formed the 17.34 electric passenger train from Waterloo to Guildford, was set back on a bell signal from the guard and collided side-on with the rear of the passenger train.

“The last two coaches of the passenger train and the leading coach of the empty train were derailed.

“One passenger unfortunately received severe spinal injuries, and seven suffered minor injuries, with six being treated in hospital and then released.”

These previously unseen photos, uncovered from the Surrey Advertiser archives by staff photographer Grahame Larter, shed some light on the scene.